HealthInfo Canterbury
Emotional & physical abuse (youth & teens)
Abuse is never OK. Everybody deserves to be treated with respect and to be safe. Getting information helps, but it's also important to tell someone you trust who can support you and help you.
There many different types of abuse that fall into under three groups. Physical abuse is when someone hurts your body. Psychological or emotional abuse is when someone hurts your mind. Sexual abuse is if someone makes you do something sexual without your permission, or when you don't want to. An abuser may use one or more of them on you.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell someone about what is going on, especially if someone close is hurting you. If things aren't right emotionally it can even be hard to know if it's emotional abuse.
Some people you could talk to first might be the people on helplines (like Shine and Youthline), your favourite teacher, your school counsellor or social worker, your family members or caregivers, your best friend's parents, or your doctor or nurse.
Phone and helplines
You may find it easier to talk to someone anonymously first. If that's the case, try one of these helplines for advice and support. They are free from any mobile, landline or pay phone.
- 0800 What's Up – Family violence
Freephone 0800‑942‑8787
You can speak to a counsellor or chat online Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 11 pm, weekends 3 pm to 11 pm. The website also has information about family violence and what you can do.
- Shine – Services
Freephone 0508-744-633
You can speak to a counsellor from 9 am to 11 pm, any day. The website also has information and help for people of all ages to get safe and stay safe, and programmes for children who are or have been abused and for men who use violence.
- Youthline – Abuse and violence
Freephone 0800‑376-633 (any time) or free txt 234 to speak to a counsellor.
Email talk@youthline.co.nz any time. Counsellors aim to respond to emails within 24 hours, so if you need help immediately it's better to phone, txt, or use the online chat.
The website also has information about different kinds of abuse and supporting friends who might be being abused.
In the links below, you'll find more information and advice about how to get help.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
New Zealand links
- Are you ok.org.nz
Information about family violence and young people, and a quiz to check how healthy your relationship is.
- Family Planning – This isn't love
Information about relationship abuse.
Overseas links
- Love is Respect – Power and control wheel
Use the interactive power and control wheel to find out more about different forms of abuse, including teens talking about different relationship issues.
- Disrespect Nobody
More information from this UK site about relationship abuse, including answers to real questions from other teens.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2019.
Sources
Review key: HIEPA-50760
